Innovation Steward Profile:
Junior Williams, District 1

Innovate ITD has seen impressive growth since starting in the spring of 2014. In that first year, only 5% of ITD employees participated in the innovation effort. It increased to 15% the following year, and has hovered between 30%-40% ever since. In order to take that next step in growth for the initiative, employees need to know who to turn to for assistance. To that end, we are profiling each of our division/district innovation stewards. This week, we profile Chris (Junior) Williams of District 1:

Williams wanted to become an innovation steward to help people get past a fear of sharing ideas. He became a steward in March 2018 to help remedy this problem.

“After 15 years at ITD, I had traveled to all the districts, and saw there was a disconnect with innovations across the state,” Williams said. “I wanted to try to bridge the gap.” 

“I love seeing new ideas blossom and see how it helps people with their jobs. I’ve seen an employee who is shy and does not want to be the center of attention share an idea that goes district-wide and make life easier and safer for fellow employees. I’ve watched him grow in confidence and have a different attitude after that experience,” Junior said.

“Those are my highlights,” he said. “I love seeing that change.

“I’ve seen groups share multiple incredible innovations that we are now using across the district.”

Williams has a simple message to those unsure about using the innovation tool:

“Come talk to me and I will help anyway I can. You will be surprised how one idea can spark another and another. And it can only help your performance review — it can never hurt it.

“We have a group of employees with incredible ideas rolling around in the back of their head to make things better, safer and faster, if they would just share them.’”

 

Here’s a list of all of the innovation stewards across the state who stand ready to help:

DMV - Beth Thompson
Administration - Angela Monson
Aeronautics & Public Transportation - Shauna Miller
Highways - David Coladner & Eric Dahlinger
D1 - Junior Williams
D2 - Bud Converse
D3 - Lori Copeland
D4 - DJ Price
D5 - Evan Snow
D6 - Jet Johnstone

 

Published 12-13-19